#✨ai 10+ years leading development teams to [[build]] products, I had never written a single line of code myself. That changed six months ago. 🚀 ## Vibe Coding vs AI-Assisted Programming I wanted to [[build with AI]] — completely solo, without relying on a dev team. The new AI tools looked promising. I started with [[Lovable]], [[Bolt]], and [[Replit]] Agent - all genuinely amazing tools that can turn anyone into a builder. It was fun, but I struggled to build anything meaningful. I hit walls constantly. UI tweaks rarely matched what I had in mind. Third-party integrations wouldn't work, and I had no idea why. Cryptic errors left me stuck.. That's when I discovered the difference between [vibe coding](https://x.com/karpathy/status/1886192184808149383) and [chat-oriented programming](https://steve-yegge.medium.com/the-death-of-the-stubborn-developer-b5e8f78d326b). Vibe coding feels magical until it breaks. Chat-oriented (or AI-assisted) programming works brilliantly — if you actually understand programming. I didn't. I was lacking the skills to use these tools effectively. So I stepped back. My "build with AI" journey became a programming fundamentals crash course — writing actual code in [[Cursor]], line by line. During this phase, AI became both tutor and assistant, generating code then explaining it step by step while teaching the underlying concepts that make it work. ## Learning Enough to Build with AI What one should know to successfully [[build with AI]]: - How different systems actually work and why they break. - What makes certain integrations complex. - How to decompose big scope into AI-friendly tasks. - How to assess if a feature is feasible for AI. - What system complexity you can take on yourself. - Which technical decisions have expensive consequences. - What's worth learning vs what to outsource. These insights only come from hands-on programming experience. I am actively gaining that experience and looking forward to sharing insights. --- ## Resources Keeping the list of my most notable resources below. ### Javascript / Typescript #### The Odin Project https://www.theodinproject.com/ Free open-source curriculum that treats learners like real developers from day one. - Dives straight into CLI, Git, and documentation reading. - Modular structure for jumping to exactly what's needed. - Curated references for deeper exploration of any topic. #### Scrimba https://scrimba.com Perfect for visual learners who learn by doing. - Pause any video and edit the instructor's code directly in browser. - Bite-sized lessons enable progress in short chunks. - Interactive format beats passive video watching. #### Eloquent JavaScript https://eloquentjavascript.net/ Solid and conveient learning complement. - Book format is perfect for when computers aren't available. - Live code playgrounds for experimenting when back online. - Each chapter builds naturally from basics to advanced topics. --- ### Python #### Real Python https://realpython.com/ The go-to compendium for everything Python. - Perfect for diving into whatever topic the current project demands. - Learning Paths bundle related tutorials for mastering specific areas. - Continuously updated with the latest Python releases. ### CS50 Python https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/ Harvard-quality education, completely free. - Academic introduction to programming fundamentals and Python specifically - Modular problem sets covering everything from functions to object-oriented programming - Self-paced with hands-on projects that build solid foundations #### 100 Days of Python https://replit.com/learn/100-days-of-python Zero setup, maximum momentum. - Code directly in browser without installing anything. - Each day tackles one focused topic with hands-on practice. - Built for beginners, suitable for limited availability. #### Automate The Boring Stuff https://automatetheboringstuff.com/ The classic introduction to Python for business professionals. - Book format is perfect for when computers aren't available. - Focus on automating everyday business tasks. - Friendly writing style makes complex topics feel approachable. --- ### Fundamentals #### CS50 https://cs50.harvard.edu/ https://cs50.harvard.edu/web/ The gold standard for intro to computer science and web development. - Understand how computers work underneath the hood. - Focus on computational thinking, algorithms, and data structures. - Progress from fundamentals to building simple web applications. #### Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/computing Comprehensive computing education that builds solid foundations. - Free, university-quality education. - Spanning programming fundamentals, algorithms, data structures, web development. - Interactive exercises that make abstract computer science concepts tangible and memorable. #### Code https://archive.org/details/CharlesPetzoldCodeTheHiddenLanguageOfComputerHardwareAndSoftwareMicrosoftPress2000/page/n1/mode/2up Great book for understanding how computers actually work at the foundational level. - Builds general knowledge from basic electrical circuits to modern processors. - Perfect for gaining the big-picture understanding that makes programming concepts click into place. - Non-technical narrative that demystifies the fundamental principles underlying all computing systems. --- ## Notes [Andrej Karpathy on X: "There's a new kind of coding I call "vibe coding", where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists. It's possible because the LLMs (e.g. Cursor Composer w Sonnet) are getting too good. Also I just talk to Composer with SuperWhisper" / X](https://x.com/karpathy/status/1886192184808149383) [Chat-oriented programming (CHOP) in action | Sourcegraph Blog](https://sourcegraph.com/blog/chat-oriented-programming-in-action) [The Death of the Stubborn Developer | by Steve Yegge | Medium](https://steve-yegge.medium.com/the-death-of-the-stubborn-developer-b5e8f78d326b) [The End of Programming as We Know It – O'Reilly](https://www.oreilly.com/radar/the-end-of-programming-as-we-know-it/) [Naval on X: "AI won't replace programmers, but rather make it easier for programmers to replace everyone else." / X](https://x.com/naval/status/1875297712993964231?lang=en) - [Mckay Wrigley on X: "@naval Programming is the API for maximizing leverage in an AGI world." / X](https://x.com/mckaywrigley/status/1875323521481765353) [Hot take: Vibe Coding is NOT the future : r/ChatGPTCoding](https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPTCoding/comments/1iueymf/hot_take_vibe_coding_is_not_the_future/) - **DO NOT LISTEN** to "Coding is dead, v0 / Cursor / Lovable is now the real deal" influencers. - Coding is the **MOST** useful and easy to learn as it ever was. Embrace this opportunity, learning new skills is always better than not. --- <font style="color: #F86759">Contributors:</font> *[[Jaros]]* <font style="color: #F86759">Last edited:</font> *2025-06-09*